everyone that has worked on cars has learned something the hard way...

what have you learned the hard way?

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Cyberwaste

if you want to take the transmission off an awd car or drop a full engine/transmission in, it tends to help to take the transfer case and center differential off first.

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2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SuperSport

1st and foremost... Label Parts. Things go back together much more smoothly when you don't have to search for the pieces.

A little bit of heat goes a long way. I would be lost without my torch. It didn't take very many times of marring nuts and bolts with tools before I forced my self to become proficient at heat loosing.

As for paint.... Lots of light coats at proper distance. No matter how bad you want it to be finished or "see what it looks like", you really don't want to strip it down and start all over because you were rushing and laid it a little thick in one spot.

If you don't have the right tool, go get it from somewhere. You'll save a lot of time and frustration as well as possibly screwing something up that there was nothing wrong to begin with.

Minivans may seem to have a lot of room, but trying to replace both intake manifold gaskets is damn hard. I still can't figure out how Chevy fit everything in that tiny engine compartment.

The under side of the dash is a pain in the A$$ too.

The more beer you drink the easier parts go together or the better the paint job looks.

If all else fails, get a bigger hammer!